Early the next morning, Qiu Bai got up at the crack of dawn.
As he stepped outside the inn and stretched, Zhongli emerged from another doorway.
"Morning, old friend."
Zhongli smiled and greeted him.
"Heh, morning, Morax."
Qiu Bai chuckled lightly and waved back.
Just then, Fanan walked out from a nearby guest room and made her way over to Qiu Bai.
"Good morning, Your Excellency."
"Lord Qiu Bai, do you still remember what happened last night?"
She greeted Zhongli politely, then looked up at Qiu Bai.
Although now living among mortals, the Water Yaksha—known more casually by her mortal name, Fanan—still carried herself with grace and sincerity.
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched slightly. "Lord Qiu Bai"? What kind of title was that?
"Of course I remember."
"Didn't you say you had something you wanted my help with?"
Qiu Bai looked down at her, smiling.
"Yes, Lord Qiu Bai," Fanan said, frowning slightly. "About six hundred years ago, I came across a place."
"It's a few hundred li from Liyue Harbor—in the direction of Tianqiu Valley on the current Liyue map."
"I passed through there six hundred years ago and had a strange feeling."
She paused, as if trying to recall something. Last night, she had checked Liyue's current map to pinpoint the location.
"It's been six centuries now."
"I have no idea what it's like there anymore. Lord Qiu Bai, could you come with me?"
Her large eyes shimmered with pleading.
Qiu Bai fell into thought. What could possibly require him to go personally? Even the Four Yakshas wouldn't suffice?
"Alright, I'll go with you."
"I've got nothing else to do anyway."
Looking into Fanan's big, watery blue eyes and her cute little face, he really couldn't bring himself to say no.
"Morax, I'll head out first."
"I'll leave the Yakshas to you when they wake up."
Qiu Bai smiled at Zhongli in the distance.
"Haha, leave them to me."
"I've also had a faint sense that there's something unusual about the place Fanan mentioned."
"But for an old friend like you, it poses no threat."
Zhongli seemed to know something. He smiled and gave a friendly reminder.
"Right, Morax."
"Give this to Qiu Yue for me."
A jade pendant shaped like a yin-yang fish appeared in Qiu Bai's hand—it was his sister's authority token.
He handed it to Zhongli.
"Alright, I'll take care of it."
"I imagine the Hall Master is getting anxious too. I'll take the Yakshas and find them a place to stay first."
Zhongli smiled at Qiu Bai.
Qiu Bai nodded back with a grin, then turned to Fanan.
"Hold on tight, Fanan."
"Tianqiu Valley, huh... That's a bit far."
He stroked his chin. That place was practically on the edge of Liyue.
Still, it wasn't as far as Jueyun Karst.
"Yes, Lord Qiu Bai."
Without hesitation, Fanan obediently grabbed the hem of Qiu Bai's robe.
Qiu Bai channeled his divine power, and in an instant, they vanished from Wangshu Inn.
...
They now stood atop a hill overlooking Tianqiu Valley.
The morning sun had just risen, casting slanted rays over the vast lowland plain below. In the distance, ruins and a large lake came into view.
Qiu Bai swept the area with his divine sense—aside from a few archaeological teams, there were also some Treasure Hoarders.
"Looks like this place isn't too crowded either."
"Not surprising—it's a known gathering place for Primordial Geovishaps."
He ran his fingers along his chin. That likely explained why so few people came here.
Fanan, meanwhile, covered her mouth in surprise.
"To think the Immortal Lord brought me this far in an instant."
"Even flying here would take forever..."
Fanan's watery blue eyes widened in shock as she stared at the calm and gentle Qiu Bai beside her.
"Fanan, where exactly is the place you mentioned?"
"Point it out, and I'll take you there."
Qiu Bai's deep, magnetic voice snapped Fanan out of her daze.
She shook her head, regaining focus, then looked down toward Tianqiu Valley.
Beside a large mountain, the narrow trails were tangled and winding, and faintly, a flowing river could be seen. She raised her small hand and pointed in that direction.
"It's over there, Lord Qiu Bai."
"But... it feels a little different now."
Her crisp voice rang out, tinged with uncertainty.
"Heh, that's fine."
"We'll take our time. Just hold on to me, Fanan."
Qiu Bai smiled and waved his hand. He had more than enough free time—helping the girl wasn't a problem at all.
Fanan grabbed the corner of Qiu Bai's robe. With a flash of divine power, they vanished from the hilltop...
...and reappeared at the spot she had just pointed to.
They landed beside a small stream. Nearby, the forest was scattered with abandoned campsites.
As soon as he touched down, Qiu Bai sensed something was off.
"Strange... if Fanan could sense something unusual..."
"Why didn't I think to scan the area myself?"
His mouth twitched slightly. He had nearly forgotten—he was a god.
With a sweep of his divine sense, something indeed felt wrong.
His eyes locked onto a cave at the end of the stream.
"So it really is there..."
Qiu Bai muttered to himself.
There was a strange aura coming from within the cave.
"What's wrong, Lord Qiu Bai?"
"You sensed it too?"
Hearing him mumble, Fanan tilted her head curiously.
"I think I've figured it out."
"Come with me."
Qiu Bai turned to Fanan with a smile, then followed the stream toward the cave.
Fanan followed obediently behind.
Just as they neared the entrance, a group of people came walking their way. They looked like an archaeological team.
Three of the members had Vision charms hanging from their waists and were armed—likely bodyguards for the scholars.
They eyed Qiu Bai and Fanan with clear confusion.
"Hey, you—the scholar and the young lady."
"This area's dangerous. You should come with us."
One of the women, who wore a Vision at her waist, called out kindly as she spotted them approaching.
To them, the situation looked absurd—a fragile-looking scholar walking alone with a young girl in a wild, dangerous area. Were they not afraid of monsters?
A closer look revealed that neither the man nor the adorable little girl by his side carried a Vision.
"Haha, I appreciate the concern."
"But don't worry—we're just here to enjoy the scenery. Besides, monsters around here are pretty rare."
Qiu Bai smiled as he replied to the woman who had called out.
"Wait... isn't that Mr. Qiu Bai, the guest advisor from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"This new guest advisor is said to be just as knowledgeable as Mr. Zhongli—he knows everything."
One of the male team members seemed to recognize him and spoke to his teammates.
He had once lost a friend in a monster attack and had gone to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to arrange the burial—Qiu Bai was the one who had received him.